SYNTHESIS, STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION AND IN-VITRO ANTITUMOR PROPERTIES OF TRIORGANOANTIMONY(V) DISALICYLATES - CRYSTAL AND MOLECULAR-STRUCTURES OF [5-Y-2-(HO)C(6)H3COO](2)SBME(3) (Y=H, ME, MEO)

Triorganoantimony(V) salicylates, [5-Y-2-(HO)-C6H3COO](2)SbR(3) (R=Me, Ph; Y=H, Me, MeO), were obtained by reacting R(3)SbCl(2) with the app ropriate sodium salt. The compounds have been characterized by IR, MS, H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structure of the three s ubstituted trimethylantimony(V) disalicylates has been determined by X -ray diffraction. The salicylate ligands are mono-coordinated to antim ony through an oxygen atom of each carboxylate, leading to a trigonal bipyramidal geometry, with the antimony-methyl groups in equatorial po sitions and the oxygen atoms in axial positions. The trimethylantimony compounds tested in vitro against a series of human tumour cell Lines were found to be inactive.